SIMON Jones once again missed out on his return to Worcestershire as his neck injury kept him out of the LVCC Division Two match at Northamptonshire.

The Welshman suffered a whiplash type injury when trying to avoid a short ball from Warwickshire's Neil Carter on the opening day of the season, with Chris Whelan once again replacing Jones.

But despite all the hope and medical attention the 2005 England Ashes hero is once again playing the waiting game.

"Simon is frustrated as anybody," County chief executive Mark Newton said. "He had a cortisone injection last week but its been decided not too have another one and let it settle on its own.

"He is desperate to play and even more so on Monday against Glamorgan, hopefully he will be able to.

"But when he is fit and ready to go again it will be like unleashing an incarcerated animal."

Worcestershire lost the toss at Wantage Road and Northants opted to bat. Kabir Ali struck in the third over having Alex Wakely caught behind by Steven Davies.

After 9.1 overs, the hosts were 28-1, before rain stopped play. The umpires will inspect the Wantage Road pitch at 2pm.